Struck by the rope, the child remained on the ground as dismayed café staff rushed to her aid – and police said it was a ‘miracle’ no one else was hurt.

A police spokesman said, ‘We have spoken to witnesses as part of our ongoing inquiries but I would like to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the assaults in the café or the criminal damage in the car park, to come forward and contact police immediately if you have not already done so.’